HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT Sirius Site, 2-60 Cumberland Street, The Rocks NSW Prepared for SIRIUS DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD 18 February 2021 URBIS STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPORT WERE: Director Heritage Stephen Davies, B Arts Dip. Ed., Dip. T&CP, Dip. Cons. Studies, M.ICOMOS Associate Director Heritage Alexandria Barnier, B Des (Architecture), Grad Cert Herit Cons, M.ICOMOS Ashleigh Persian, B Prop Econ, Grad Dip Heritage Cons Heritage Consultant Meggan Walker, BA Archaeology (Hons) Project Code P0016443 Report Number 01 04.05.2020 Progress draft issue 02 07.08.2020 Progress draft issue 03 03.09.2020 Final draft issue 04 25.09.2020 Final draft issue 2 05 28.10.2020 Final issue 06 18.02.2021 Updated Final Urbis acknowledges the important contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make in creating a strong and vibrant Australian society. We acknowledge, in each of our offices. the Traditional Owners on whose land we stand. All information supplied to Urbis in order to conduct this research has been treated in the strictest confidence. It shall only be used in this context and shall not be made available to third parties without client authorisation. Confidential information has been stored securely and data provided by respondents, as well as their identity, has been treated in the strictest confidence and all assurance given to respondents have been and shall be fulfilled. © Urbis Pty Ltd 50 105 256 228 All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced without prior permission. You must read the important disclaimer appearing within the body of this report. urbis.com.au CONTENTS Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Site Location ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.3. Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.4. Author Identification ............................................................................................................. 6 1.5. Heritage Listings & Heritage Context of the Site ................................................................. 6 1.5.1. Existing Heritage Listings Applying to the Subject Site ........................................ 6 1.5.2. History of the Proposed Heritage Listing of Sirius ................................................ 7 1.5.3. Vicinity Heritage Items .......................................................................................... 8 1.6. The Proposal ......................................................................................................................10 2. Site Description ...............................................................................................................................16 2.1. The Rocks ..........................................................................................................................16 2.2. Gloucester Walk Precinct ..................................................................................................16 2.3. The Sirius building .............................................................................................................17 2.4. Heritage Landmarks in the Area ........................................................................................20 3. Historical Overview .........................................................................................................................21 3.1. Historical Overview of The Rocks ......................................................................................21 3.2. Gloucester Walk Precinct ..................................................................................................24 3.3. Subject Site History ............................................................................................................26 3.4. Date of Construction ..........................................................................................................30 4. Heritage Significance ......................................................................................................................31 4.1. What is Heritage Significance? ..........................................................................................31 4.2. Significance Assessment – Sirius building ........................................................................31 4.3. Statements of Significance ................................................................................................33 4.3.1. Subject Site – Sirius building ..............................................................................33 4.3.2. Vicinity Heritage Items & Conservation Areas ...................................................34 4.4. Historical Archaeology .......................................................................................................47 5. Heritage Impact Assessment .........................................................................................................48 5.1. The Rocks Heritage Management Plan .............................................................................48 5.2. Better Placed – Design Guideline for Heritage ..................................................................50 5.3. Heritage NSW Guidelines ..................................................................................................53 5.4. The Sirius building – Heritage Strategies .........................................................................57 5.5. Sydney Opera House – Conservation Management Plan (CMP) .....................................60 5.6. Visual Impact Assessment .................................................................................................62 5.7. Heritage Interpretation .......................................................................................................64 5.7.1. Audience Analysis & Stakeholders .....................................................................64 5.7.2. Audience Analysis & Stakeholders .....................................................................64 5.7.3. Types of Interpretation........................................................................................64 5.7.3.1. Interpretive signage ............................................................................................64 5.7.3.2. Built Form ...........................................................................................................65 5.7.4. Interpretation Principles for Sirius ......................................................................66 6. Conclusion and Recommendations ..............................................................................................68 7. Bibliography and References ........................................................................................................70 7.1. Bibliography .......................................................................................................................70 7.2. References .........................................................................................................................70 Appendix A Phillip Room Fit Out Advice 71 Disclaimer ........................................................................................................................................................72 URBIS P0014663_2- 60CUMBERLANDST_THEROCKS_SIRIUS_HERITAGEIMPACTSTATEMENT FIGURES Figure 1 – Locality plan showing the subject site outlined in red ...................................................................... 6 Figure 2 Extract of The Rocks Conservation Area map showing the subject site outlined in red ..................... 7 Figure 3 – Extract of the NSW heritage map showing state and local heritage items and the subject site outlined in yellow. ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Figure 4 –Sydney Regional Environmental Plan (Sydney Harbour Catchment) 2005 Sydney Opera House Buffer Zone Map (Amendment 2016), subject site outlined in yellow. ................................................... 9 Figure 5 Extract of proposed plan – view north. .............................................................................................. 14 Figure 6 Extract of proposed plan – view north from Gloucester Walk ........................................................... 15 Figure 7 Extract of proposed plan – levels 3-5 floor plan ................................................................................ 15 Figure 8 - View north west of the Sirius building with Bradfield highway between Sirius and Millers Point ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 9 – View east of The Rocks from the Sirius building ............................................................................ 16 Figure 10 – typical floor plan of the Sirius building .........................................................................................